As she was pulling in air, Gwenn turned to Thomas, noticing how tired and sad and confused he looked. Sure, his armor looked awesome and everything, but his expression completely ruined it.

"What's wrong?" She knew it was a stupid question the moment it'd left her lips. But Thomas didn't mind answering anyway.

"I don't understand. One moment, I was in Camelot, then the next, my friend died, and now . . ."

He looked around the apartment, holding back a devastating sigh. Gwenn didn't know what to say. She opened her mouth right as a pan in the kitchen fell to the ground, scaring the living daylights out of both her and Thomas.

"Gwenn!?" She turned slowly around, already wincing at her mom's voice. Her mom - Fiona - stood in the kitchen, the pan she'd just been holding swirling around on the ground.

"Hi, mom."

After explaining everything, Gwenn plopped down on the couch, staring solemnly down at her hands. Thomas was quiet the whole time, his lips pressed together in thought.

"You . . . but . . . I . . . baby, you gotta know I love you and I'll always trust you it's just him that I don't trust."

Gwenn looked up, Fiona was staring at Thomas as if trying to figure him out.

"With all due respect, my lady, your daughter has told you nothing but the truth. Although, how you know my name, I know not," he turned to Gwenn, who's ears turned pink.

"I . . ." she'd 'forgotten' to mention the dream. "I had, um, a dream."

Thomas and Fiona both stared at her, their faces unreadable. Not knowing what else to do, she shrugged.

"Fine. Thomas, you can stay for tonight but we're finding your place by tomorrow, got it?"

Gwenn didn't understand why her mom was letting him stay and letting her off the hook so easily.

After getting on her pajamas and getting the couch ready for Thomas, Gwenn was called into her mom's room.

"Thanks for letting him stay mom, but . . . why?"

Fiona looked at her, wonder on her face.

"Because. You aren't one to open up so easily to people. If you welcome Thomas - whoever he is - into our house . . ." she shrugged, raising her eyebrows, "I can't help but feel like you have a good reason."

Gwenn wanted to say she did - she really did - but she couldn't think of anything past, I got a feeling. Fortunately for her though, Fiona kissed her on the forehead, saying goodnight as Gwenn walked out the door, not another question about it.

That night, Thalia got back. Gwenn was more excited than she could tell. She gave her sister a big hug.

"Oi, not so tight, Gwenn! I can't breathe!"

Gwenn backed away, a smile on her face. "Sorry."

Her sister's bleached blonde hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail, a few stray strands tucked behind her ears. She didn't look different than she had when she'd left three weeks ago. Her light chocolate skin was smoother than Gwenn understood, and her soft brown eyes still twinkled when she smiled.

After setting all her bags on the ground and pulling on some PJs, Thalia sat on her bed, ready for Gwenn to tell her about everything.

That night, Gwenn dreamt the same dreams she'd had in the hospital. But this time, something was different. As she was sucked into the portal of blinding light, a voice spoke to her - a woman's voice. That wasn't the strangest part though.

"Gwenn Mordredae, your time has come. Find the sorceress who has placed Sir Thomas in your world. Take Thomas to the place he truly belongs."

Gwenn woke with a start, her forehead beaded with sweat. How did she . . . who was that? It wasn't real. Just a dream, even though she knew that wasn't true. There was a knock on her door before Thalia walked in, all dressed with makeup on and everything.

"What are you doing still in bed? We're leaving in an hour!"

"What!?" With a start, she remembered something she couldn't believe she forgot. England. The three Mordredae girls annually had a trip to England. In all the excitement, she'd forgotten it was today. Without warning, the familiar fire sparked to life inside her and she jumped out of bed, running past Thalia.

"Mom!"

Fiona was having a drink of coffee with Thomas, who sat in silence.

"Yes, baby?"

"Thomas has to come with us to England."

"What?" Thalia, Fiona, and Thomas all asked simultaneously.

Gwenn took a deep breath, steadying her racing heart.

"Thomas has to come with us to England."

"No, no, I heard you the first time."

Gwenn followed Fiona into her room.

"Gwenn, he's a stranger. He can't come! Besides, I've already bought the tickets - and I only got three."

Gwenn put on the best puppy eyes she could.

"Please, mom."

An hour of convincing and a plane ride later, the four of them ended up in England, dropped off at the house they always rented.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

After settling in and having dinner, night came and all of them climbed into bed. Gwenn didn't fall to sleep - both involuntary and on purpose. She hadn't even changed into her PJs. After laying there for about an hour, she could up, packed a bag with clothes, money and food, and shook Thomas awake - he was sleeping on the couch there.

"L-Lady Gwenn? What is it?"

"Don't call me Lady Gwenn - just Gwenn. Come on, I'm taking you back home."

He sat up excitedly.

"You don't mean it!"

"Yes. But we're going now, come one."

He quickly pulled on his armor and sheathed his sword. As the two of them were slowly opening the door, Thalia scared them half to death.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"Thalia, there's no time to explain. Are you coming or not?"

Thalia opened her mouth in protest, but her expression changed to a smile.

"I'll get my clothes on. And don't forget to inform mom of our absence."

While Thalia got dressed, Gwenn scribbled down a note and stuck it on the fridge.

About half an hour later, a taxi had dropped them off to Stonehenge. Why there? That little feeling inside Gwenn's tummy. After paying the taxi driver, the three of them climbed the hill to the great monument. The very sight of it took Gwenn's breath away. Thomas let out a nervous laugh.

"Haha! It remains here!"

He marveled at the assortment of giant stones, grinning from ear to ear.

"Alright, where now?"

Gwenn turned in place, examining everything around them. She didn't say it aloud but she didn't actually know. Suddenly, something twisted her stomach into a knot, making her double over in pain.

"Gwenn! What's wrong!? What is it!?"

Gwenn couldn't speak, she could hardly even breathe.

"My Ladies! Look out!"

Thomas jumped in front of them right as something lunged at them. It swiped Thomas away like a ragdoll. Thalia screamed, holding her arm out in front of Gwenn instinctively.

At first, Gwenn didn't believe what she saw, but despite the numerous times she tried to shake the image away, it stood firm, the bright moon overhead illuminating it perfectly in the dark. A grizzly bear, about ten feet tall, stood not three feet away from them, snarling and growling. A pair of massive, thickly set antelope horns grew from its head. Gwenn blinked. Wait no, not horns - like plural horns - just one. And where the second one should be, there was an almost smooth stub.

Even though she'd lost her ability to breathe properly when her stomach twisted into a knot, she now lost the ability to breathe altogether.

"Run, Gwenn!"

Like she could run. She couldn't even stand. Thalia tried to help by dragging her away, but Gwenn somehow stood firm, staring up at the creature in front of them. For some reason, the mysterious confident fire inside of her burned brightly.

"Gwenn, what are you doing!? Run!"

"Wait," Gwenn half-whispered, half grunted it. The bear thing wasn't attacking them. With her heart pounding a million miles per hour inside her chest, Gwenn stared into the creature's eyes. Its snarl melted away and its growl was silenced.

Gwenn, it had a deep voice that spoke clearly into her mind. Did you just . . .

Yes. You need my help. My name is- with a scream, Thomas was suddenly running at the bear with a limp now, his sword raised high into the air.

"Thomas, no!" Her air was returning to her, but the pain remained, leaving her helpless as the young knight slashed at the creature, cutting its side. With a deafening roar, the bear retreated, tripping over itself before rolling part of the way down the hill. Thomas stood in front of Gwen, sword in hand. He was breathing hard. Gwenn gathered all her strength and ran past him, hurrying down the hill as fast as anyone can while having almost unbearable pain in their stomach to a creature that shouldn't exist. The bear-thing lay still on the ground, its back facing them.

Gwenn ran around it, crouching down in front of it. To her relief, it was still breathing, but blood was coming out more than healthy - even with the bear's enormous size.

"What do I do!? How do I help you!?"

"Gwenn! What are you doing!?"

Thalia and Thomas were running down the hill now, Thomas still holding onto his sword. Gwenn didn't know what she was doing until after she acted.

"No!" Her hand shot out. Something else pulled at her gut and before she could stop it, an unseeable force slammed against her friends, sending them both flying back. Gwenn's hand flew to her mouth. What do I do now!?

There was bad news and good news.

The good news; she didn't have to decide what to do next.

The bad news; out of nowhere a herd of . . . centaurs ran up, surrounding the sorry group.

They all had giant bow drawn. An especially older looking one stepped forward, his horse end silvery-white.

"Why are you here, humans?"

"We could ask you the same question," All three of them - Thalia, Thomas, and Gwenn - were surprised at Gwenn's answer. The centaurs shuffled uneasily.

"You might want to consider your words more carefully, seeing as we are the ones holding the weapons."

Gwenn ignored the comment, turning back to the bear-thing.

"This-this creature needs our help!"

A few centaurs gasped and a few stepped forward curiously.

"I am impressed that you could take down such a mighty beast such as a Bojack bear."

Gwenn took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.

"He needs help. Besides, it was my friend that hurt it, not me."

"You speak as if you are disappointed in that."

"It needs help - it didn't do anything . . . wrong," she said the last word quietly, glancing at Thomas as she remembered him being swiped away for harshly.

"We can not help you. You must do this- leave this place and never return. Anyone you tell about us, we will personally hunt down and-"

"No! Just tell me how to help it or do it yourself!"

The centaurs all grew uneasy. Clearly this leader wasn't spoken to like that often - or ever. The leader sucked in a breath, both his upper body and his horse belly moving with the inhale.

"Humans do not speak to centaurs that way. They never have, and they never will. I am giving you one last chance."

"Well, I'm not taking it. I'm not leaving until I know he's safe," she looked down at the Bojack bear, its eyes twinkling with the same stars as the old knight's eyes did in her dream. Don't give up, I'm going to help you. Just stay with me, okay? Can you do that? The Bojack bear slightly nodded. Out of the crowd, a centaur with light blonde hair and tail and a chestnut horse half walked out and whispered something into the leader's ear.

"You- you can understand this human's . . . telepathy?"

All eyes were on the younger centaur now. He nodded, staring down at Gwenn, who bit her lip, blushing. She clutched at her stomach, which still hadn't sorted itself out.

The leader pulled in a thoughtful breath, everyone around him holding their own breath.

"Very well. Kihwek informs me that . . ." he glanced uneasily to the staring eyes all around, "We will help you. Kihwek,"

Clearly Kihwek - the younger centaur - was hesitant to walk over to Gwenn, who sat by the Bojack bear, but he made it down - which looked pretty funny since the horse part of him had to walk down a certain way. He walked around the Bojack bear and kneeled down next to Gwenn, who was both too amazed and in pain to move away. He looked different up close. Maybe a little more handsome than she realized before.

"I know you are a mage. The mage of humans."

Somehow, she knew what he was going on about and slowly nodded. Kihwek got comfortable on his horse legs, leaning closer to her.

"Only you can heal it. Centaurs are forbidden to help Bojack bears."

Because of how he looked and his voice, she assumed he was about seventeen or eighteen - not too much older than herself - in horse years. Or was it humans years? If he was a human, he would be about seventeen or eighteen.

"I - I don't know how to heal it. I don't know what to do!" Her hands were clammy now. She felt slightly frustrated and afraid that she couldn't heal the Bojack. But Kihwek had a confident and certain smile threaded in his Elvin features.

She swallowed turning to the dying Bojack.

"Gwenn, don't! They're trying to trick you! Bojack bears hate people!"

All eyes fell onto Thomas, who was struggling to his feet.

"Ah, a knight of Camelot. I haven't seen your kind for a very long time."

Thomas glared at the lead centaur, who secretly also annoyed Gwenn. She turned back to the Bojack, ignoring Thomas. Just as she was focusing, Thomas distracted her.

"Gwenn, don't!"

Gwenn shot Thomas a look, which quieted him.

She held her hands over the wounded area of the Bojack. Her hands were shaking but she felt a little calmer as she pulled in a breath.

You can do this. We both believe in you. Kihwek spoke into her head - the Bojack slightly nodded in agreement - apparently, he could hear Kihwek too. For some reason, the two of them being so encouraging - especially since she felt close to them because they all had magic - Gwenn felt immensely better and comforted.